Shintaro Mochizuki is on his way to the second round at the US Open.
The No. 112 in the PIF ATP ranking listed in the second round as a qualification for the second consecutive major with a series of commanding versions in New York. After achieving his first Grand Slam Main-Draw victory in Wimbledon at the end of June, Mochizuki ran past Hugo Gaston in straight sets at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday to book a confrontation with eighth seed Alex de Minaur.
The Minaur is perhaps the perfect role model for Mochizuki, because he wants to further push the PIF ATP ranking up. In an era in which long players with large service turned out to bloom, the Australian cracked the top 10 without the natural benefits that many of his rivals enjoy. Relatively short before a tennis player on 6 feet, the Minaur relies on his lightning movement, elite fitness levels and competitive will to feed his successes.
“He is great,” said the 5-foot-9 Mochizuki Atptour.com when he was asked what he thought of his second round opponent. “I think he’s best on tour. But I see that many non-so-long boys have also been successful on the Tour. Kei [Nishikori]” [Diego] SCHWARTZMAN – I saw him here this week. They have had a great career and that also gives me the feeling that I can do it too, but at the same time I find it super difficult to be at the top on this tour.
“Especially now, if everyone hits so hard and everyone is big. But I get better and better, even against tall boys. For example with Wimbledon against [Karen] Khachanov, where I almost won. I just do my best, that’s all I can do, and I want to keep doing it all my career. ”
The 22-year-old Mochizuki gathered from two sets to beat Giulio Zeppieri in Wimbledon and to earn his first Main-Traw victory in a major. The nature of his New York Triumph against Gaston could hardly have been different anymore, and Mochizuki reflected it in a businesslike way in his press conference after the game.
“In Wimbledon I was very nervous because I had no victories with Grand Slams, so I wanted it so badly and I was very tight in the beginning,” he said. “Even when I see the score now, two sets and I won 7-5 in the fifth, I am still surprised. Today I did well from the start, so I am happy, but a victory is a victory.”
Mochizuki is a former Wimbledon Boys’ Singles champion, but he also has a lot of affection for New York because of his passion for baseball. Although a fan in New York Yankees, his love for sport, means that he would have no trouble falling into Citi Field, the home of the Yankees rival The New York Mets, which is right next to Flushing Meadows.
“I went to the Yankees Stadium two days ago. It was against the Red Sox, who has a Japanese man in the team. I enjoy it a lot,” said Mochizuki. “I really want to go to a Mets match this week. They came back yesterday to play at home. Hopefully I can watch after the tournament.
“I used to play when I was very young, but now I just like to watch. I want to drink a beer while watching baseball, but not now!”
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